Telescoping and folding shoe horn

ABSTRACT

A shoe horn shaped handle has a series of telescoping sleeves which telescope within the handle for storage and extend out for use. A mating shoe horn shaped pivotable head attaches to an outer end of the outer most sleeve. The pivotable head pivots over, locks, and nests with the handle in a pocket storage configuration. The pivotable head pivots open for use as a long handled shoe horn. A variety of different pivotable heads may be attached as individual replacement heads.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shoe horns and particularly to a shoehorn device having a handle in a shoe horn configuration with a longtelescoping handle extension and a shoe horn head at an opposite end ofthe handle extension which folds over the handle in its retractedposition for a more compact arrangement to fit into a pocket or purse ofa user, wherein the shoe horn head is replaceable with other types ofheads for use with the device.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98

A shoe horn is a great aide and often necessary to assist a user ininserting a foot into a shoe or slipping a shoe over a foot, especiallyfor very tight-fitting shoes. A long handled shoe horn is a greatconvenience for putting on a shoe without bending over by simply holdingthe shoe horn against an inside back of a shoe from a standing positionwhile slipping the foot into the shoe. For people who cannot bend over,such as people with leg injuries, or cannot easily bend over, such aselderly or other joint stiffened people, a long handled shoe horn is anecessity for putting on shoes without bending over.

With the current mobile lifestyle and various activities away from homerequiring having to removes shoes and put them on again having aportable long handle shoe horn is a great convenience to some andnecessity to others as indicated above. Some such situations includeexercise classes or sports participation, such as swimming or bowling,medical visits, or just trying on clothing or shoes at a self-serviceshoe store. Prior art devices do not address this problem in aneasy-to-use compact portable shoe horn which extends out to a usefullength.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,695,182, issued Feb. 24, 2004 to Shrewsbury, depicts anextendable shoehorn device for permitting a user to put a shoe on a footwithout having to bend over. The extendable shoehorn device includes ahandle assembly having a pocket clip thereon. An offset shoehorn memberis mounted to an end of the handle assembly for permitting a user tomore easily put a shoe on their foot.

U.S. Pat. No. D302,490, issued Aug. 1, 1989 to Denney, provides theornamental design for a shoe horn.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,355,745, issued Oct. 26, 1982 to Nelson, shows aspecially constructed shoe horn for persons having limited body bendingmovements. The device has an elongated pivotable handle, which enables aperson to put on footwear without substantial bending at the waist, hipsor knees.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,823, issued Mar. 23, 1999 to Carroll, claims acollapsible shoe horn that includes a shoe horn tongue having agenerally thin and smooth body portion for aiding the user in putting ona pair of shoes. The side edges of the shoe horn tongue are slightlycurved upwardly in a concave manner so that the shoe horn tongueconforms to the shape of the heel of a human foot. A neck portion isintegral with and extends from the bottom of the shoe horn tongue. Theneck portion has a pair of opposing flanges, each flange having a dapopening formed within the interior side thereof for receiving opposingends of a shoe horn handle. The dap openings have a smooth dimple-likedap surface extending from the outer exposed surface of each neck flangefor protecting the shoe horn user from the sharp ends of the shoe hornhandle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,216, issued May 14, 2002 to Cubelli, describes acane and grasping device provided with a shoehorn. An upper tubularmember is telescoped within a lower sleeve or sheath having a cane footat its lowermost end. The sleeve is adjustably set along the member toset the length of the cane by a detent assembly employing a pawl andaperture arrangement. An article grasping mechanism is located at thelower end of the upper tubular member and includes a pair of toothedjaws with meshing'teeth. The jaws extend from the tubular member at oneend, opposite a handle attached to the tubular member at the other end.A lever is attached at the handle end and is coupled to the jaws viacables and pulleys. The jaws are biased open and are closed by thecables as the handle is squeezed closed. The sleeve encloses the jaws inthe closed state when not in use. When the sleeve is removed fromjuxtaposition over the jaws, the jaws are biased open by torsionsprings. The handle and lever are then used to close the open jaws overan article to be grasped.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,531, issued Jan. 29, 1974 to Oldfield, claims acollapsible shoehorn with two shoehorn curved sections telescopingtogether for storage and telescoping out for usage.

U.S. Patent Application #20040255995, published Dec. 23, 2004 byGarrett, illustrates a walking stick having a shoehorn/gripper andmagnet accessories. The walking stick or cane comprises a support havinga foot at one end thereof and a handle at the other. A gripper deviceadjacent the foot includes a shoehorn assembly pivoted to the supportfor movement toward and away from the foot for grasping objects betweenthe end of the foot and the shoehorn assembly. The gripper device isoperated by a trigger mounted adjacent the handle and a rod generallyparallel to the support. In one embodiment, the shoehorn assemblyincludes a shoehorn which acts to grasp an object. The walking stick mayhave an adjustable length, by providing telescoping sections.

What is needed is an easy-to-use compact portable shoe horn which fitsinto a pocket or purse of a user and opens easily and extends out into ashoe horn with a rigid elongated handle extension of a useful length.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use compactportable shoe horn with a handle in a shoe horn configuration having along handle extension which telescopes closed and has a shoe horn headpivotally attached to on outer end of the handle extension which pivotsand locks in place over the handle for a compact unit which fits into apocket or purse of a user for storage. and transportation and openseasily by snapping the shoe horn end open away from the handle extensionin a locked open position with the handle extension telescoping out toform a shoe horn with a rigid elongated handle of a useful length.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a shoe hornshaped handle which fits comfortably in a hand of a user and has ahandle extension in the form of a series of telescoping sleeves with amating shoe horn shaped pivotable head on an outer end of an outersleeve which pivots open for use while holding the handle and pivotsclosed nesting with the handle with the sleeves all telescoped togetherinside the handle.

Another object of the present invention is to, provide replaceablepivotable heads which may include a shoe horn, a back scratcher, apick-up magnet, a pick-up hand, or other types of heads requiring anextended length handle.

In brief, the handle in the shape of a shoe horn has a handle extensionformed by a number of increasingly smaller sleeves which telescopetogether to fit within the handle to provide a pocket size item with thehandle extension telescoped down and a shoe horn head at an outer end ofthe sleeves pivoted over the handle and which sleeves telescope out toform the handle extension to make the handle a useful length and withthe shoe horn head pivoted open to enable a person to use the shoe hornin a standing position.

The handle extension comprises of a series of tubular sleevestelescoping into each other which telescope down to fit within the shoehorn shaped handle. This particular shoe horn shape handle serves threepurposes. First, with the sleeves extended to form the handle extension,the shoe horn shaped handle forms a self sufficient shoe horn with along handle even without the pivoting shoe horn head attached to theother end of the telescoping sleeves. Second, the shoe horn shapedhandle receives the mating pivoted shoe horn head in a highly efficientcompact fit with the two shoe horn shapes conforming to each other tocradle together in a very compact arrangement. Third, using one of theinterchangeable heads on the other end of the rod in place of thepivoting shoe horn head, the shoe horn shaped handle makes a handle witha very comfortable grip fitting into the palm of the users hand enablingeasy manipulation of the pivotable shoe horn head or otherinterchangeable heads.

The pivotable head is attached to an outer end of an outermost sleeve bya pivotable means of allowing the pivotable head to pivot open and lockin an extended work configuration and pivot closed and lock in a foldedover storage configuration and a removable means of attaching thepivotable head to the outermost telescoping sleeve.

A folding shoe horn is one of a number of removable interchangeablepivotable heads attachable to the telescopic sleeve. Other tips wouldinclude magnetic pick-up, back scratch, golf putter, grasping device,etc.

With the telescoping rod collapsed and the shoe horn folded over it, itthen becomes pocket size. Unfolded and extended, the shoe horn would betwenty-nine to thirty inches long.

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a useful longhandled shoe horn which enables use in a standing position and collapsesdown to fit in a pocket or purse.

Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides aportable pocket tool with a collapsible and expansible handle having avariety of replaceable heads for different functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other details of my invention will be described in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only by way ofillustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the telescoping and folding longhandled shoe horn device of the present invention in a fully expandedconfiguration with the shoe horn shaped handle grip portion seen at aleft end and the pivotable head mating shoe horn seen at a right endpivoted open at an outer end of the extended telescoping sleeves;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the present invention of FIG. 1with all of the sleeves telescoped together in the handle and thepivotable head folded over and nesting with the shoe horn shaped handleso that the device is fully contracted for storage:

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the present invention of FIG. 3 in thefully contracted configuration;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view in partial section of the pivotable shoe hornshaped head showing the pivot and locking connection between thepivotable head and an outer end of the outermost telescoping sleeve anda twist plug connection of the pivotable head with the outermosttelescoping sleeve;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the twist plug and the protrusion of thepivotable head base;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view showing the flanges of thepivotable head which connect to the protrusion of the pivotable headbase of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the shoe horn shaped grippinghandle shown with the telescoping sleeves extended;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view in partial section of the pivotable shoe hornshaped head showing the pivot and locking connection between thepivotable head and a threaded outer end of the outermost telescopingsleeve and a mating threaded opening in the pivotable head base;

FIG. 10A is a top plan view of an alternate back scratcher embodiment ofthe pivotable head;

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the alternate back scratcherembodiment of the pivotable head of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11A is a top plan view of an alternate grasper head embodiment ofthe pivotable head;

FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the alternate back grasper headembodiment of the pivotable head of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12A is a top plan view of an alternate magnetized head embodimentof the pivotable head;

FIG. 12B is a side elevational view of the alternate magnetizedembodiment of the pivotable head of FIG. 12A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-12, a telescoping and pivoting shoe horn device 20 comprisesa shoe horn shaped hand grip handle 24 at one end having a series oftelescoping sleeves 23A-23D slidable inside the handle with a pivotablehead 21 in the shape of a mating shoe horn pivotally attached to onouter end of an outer sleeve 23A and the pivotable head pivots open withthe sleeves fully extended into a handle extension for use as a shoehorn at either end with an elongated handle, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,and alternately, with the sleeves telescoped together within the handle,the pivotable head 21 pivots closed over the handle 24 nesting with thehandle, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, for compact storage in a pocket orpurse.

The collapsible and expansible handle comprises an outer grippingportion 24 in the shape of a shoe horn and a series of increasinglysmaller sleeves 23D, 23C, 23B, and 23A which sleeves telescope togetherto fit within the outer gripping portion in a fully collapsed position,as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, to fit within a pocket of a user and whichsleeves 23A-23D telescope out to a fully extended configuration to forma handle extension for use as an elongated handle, as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, to enable a user, holding a proximal end of the handle to contacta floor with a distal end of the handle from a standing position. Thedevice can be held from either end to use as a long-handled shoe horn.

A pivotable head 21 and 21A-21C attaches to an outer end of an outermostextensible telescoping sleeve 23A by a means for pivoting the pivotablehead from a first locked position pivoted over the handle 21 and thetelescoping sleeves 23A-23D in the fully collapsed position, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, to a second locked position pivoted away from the handleand the telescoping sleeves 23A-23D in the fully extended position, asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 10-12. The pivotable head 21 and 21A-21C hasa shape conforming to the shoe horn shape of the gripping portion of thehandle 24 so that the pivotable head 21 and 21A-21C contacts and nestswith the shoe horn shaped gripping portion of the handle in the fullycollapsed position with the pivotable head 21 and 21A-21C pivoted overthe gripping portion 24, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Both the shoe horn shaped gripping portion of the handle 24 and thepivotable head 21 are each alternately usable as a shoe horn and ahandle conforming to a palm of a hand of a user.

The pivotable head 21 and 21A-21C is removable from the outermostextensible telescoping sleeve 23A and replaceable thereon by any otherpivotable head of a variety of types including one of a list ofpivotable head functional tools including a shoe horn 21 of FIGS. 1-5and 9, a back scratcher 21A of FIGS. 10A and 10B using an array ofspaced end fingers 15, a grasper head 21B of FIGS. 11A and 11B forretrieving external items using an array of end pointed fingers 16 andnotches 17 between the pointed fingers, and a magnetic head 21C of FIGS.12A and 12B for retrieving external metal items using a surroundingmagnetic field 40.

In FIGS. 5-7 and 9, the means for attaching the pivotable head comprisesa pivotable head base 30 and 30A comprising a first end 33 and 33Ahaving a means for attaching the pivotable head base to the outer end ofthe outermost sleeve and a second end having a base protrusion 28 withtwo opposing parallel flat sides having a base pivot pin hole 35therethrough with a pivot pin 22 through the base pivot pin hole 29 andan adjacent cylindrical opening 35 therethrough with a pair ofspring-loaded locking balls 39 and a communicating spring 35 positionedwithin the cylindrical opening with one of the balls 39 protruding fromeach of two opposing parallel flat sides of the base protrusion adjacentto the base pivot pin hole 29 and a pivotable head extension comprisinga pair of spaced parallel flanges 27 protruding orthogonally therefromstraddling the two opposing parallel flat sides of the base protrusion28, each of the flanges having a center flange pivot hole 29 forreceiving an end of the pivot pin 22 therein and a detente 31A and 31Bon each side of the flange pivot hole 29 in alignment with the lockingball 39 so that when the pivotable head is pivoted open in the fullyextended position the balls 39 engage a first pair of detentes 31A onone side of the pivot pin to lock the pivotable head in a pivoted openposition and when the pivotable head is pivoted closed in a closedposition over the handle the balls engage a second pair of detentes 31Bon the other side of the pivot pin to lock the pivotable head in thepivoted closed position. When a user applies force to pivot thepivotable head 21 and 21A-21C, the pivotable head pivots to release theballs unlocking the pivotable head.

In FIGS. 5-7, one means for attaching the pivotable head base 30 to theouter end of the outermost sleeve 23A comprises a hollow cylindricalopen outer end of the outermost sleeve having a sleeve inner protrusion36 adjacent to the outer end and a twist plug 33 extending from thepivotable head base 30, the twist plug having a cylindrical body to fitwithin the cylindrical open outer end of the outermost sleeve and aninsertion portion 37 of a groove mating with the sleeve inner protrusionalong the length of the plug in an outer surface of the plug extendingfrom an outer end of the plug and a locking portion 38 of the grooveextending orthogonally from the insertion portion of the groove around aportion of the circumference of the tube, the locking portion 38 of thegroove communicating with the insertion portion 37 of the groove so thatthe sleeve inner protrusion 36 engages the insertion portion 37 of thegroove when the twist plug 33 is inserted in the outer end of the outersleeve 23A and the sleeve inner protrusion 36 further engages thelocking portion 38 of the groove when the twist plug 33 is turned in theoutermost sleeve 23A to lock the pivotable head base 30 to the outermostsleeve 23A.

In FIG. 9, an alternate means for attaching the pivotable head base 30Ato the outer end of the outermost sleeve 23A comprises a protrudingthreaded outer end 32 of the outermost sleeve 23A and a mating threadedopening 34 in a connecting portion 33A of the pivotable head base 30A toreceive the protruding threaded outer end 32 to lock the pivotable headbase 30A to the outermost sleeve 23A.

The components are preferably fabricated of metal or sturdy plastic.

It is understood that the preceding description is given merely by wayof illustration and not in limitation of the invention and that variousmodifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as claimed.

1. A telescoping and pivoting shoe horn device comprising: a collapsibleand expansible handle comprising an outer gripping portion and a seriesof increasingly smaller sleeves which sleeves telescope together to fitwithin the outer gripping portion in a fully collapsed position to fitwithin a pocket of a user and which sleeves telescope out to a fullyextended position to form a handle extension for use as an elongatedhandle to enable a user holding a proximal end of the elongated handleto contact a floor with a distal end of the handle from a standingposition; a pivotable head attached to an outer end of an outermosttelescoping sleeve by a means for pivoting the pivotable head between afirst locked position with the pivotable head pivoted onto the handlewhen the telescoping sleeves are in the fully collapsed in a pocketstorage configuration position and a second locked position with thepivotable head pivoted out straight extending from the outer end of theoutermost sleeve with the telescoping sleeves in the fully extendedposition to form a long handled shoe horn of a useful length so thatwith the shoe horn head pivoted open to enable a user to use the shoehorn in a standing position, and means for locking the pivotable head inthe first locked position and alternately means for snapping the shoehorn end open away from the handle extension in a locked open positionwith the handle extension telescoping out to lock the pivotable head inthe second locked position to form a shoe horn with a rigid elongatedhandle of a useful length, the pivotable head having a shape conformingto the shape of the gripping portion of the handle so that the pivotablehead pivots over, locks, and contacts and nests with the grippingportion of the handle when the sleeves are in the fully collapsedposition with the pivotable head pivoted over the gripping portion toform a telescoping and pivoting shoe horn device; wherein the grippingportion of the handle conforms to a palm of a hand of a user.
 2. Thedevice of claim 1 wherein the pivotable head is removable from theoutermost telescoping sleeve and replaceable thereon by any of a varietyof pivotable heads.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the pivotable headis removable from the outermost telescoping sleeve and replaceablethereon by one of a variety of pivotable heads taken from the list ofpivotable heads including a shoe horn, a back scratcher, a grasper forretrieving external items, and a magnetic head for retrieving externalmetal items.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for attachingthe pivotable head comprises a pivotable head base comprising a firstend having a means for attaching the pivotable head base to the outerend of the outermost sleeve and a second end having a base protrusionwith two opposing parallel flat sides having a base pivot pin holetherethrough with a pivot pin through the base pivot pin hole and anadjacent cylindrical opening therethrough with a pair of spring-loadedlocking balls positioned within the cylindrical opening with one of theballs protruding from each of two opposing parallel flat sides of thebase protrusion adjacent to the base pivot pin hole and a pivotable headextension comprising a pair of spaced parallel flanges protrudingorthogonally therefrom straddling the two opposing parallel flat sidesof the base protrusion, each of the flanges having a center flange pivothole for receiving an end of the pivot pin therein and a dent on eachside of the flange pivot hole in alignment with the locking ball so thatwhen the pivotable head is pivoted open in the fully extended positionthe balls engage a first pair of dents on one side of the pivot pin tolock the pivotable head in a pivoted open position and when thepivotable head is pivoted closed in a closed position over the handlethe balls engage a second pair of dents on the other side of the pivotpin to lock the pivotable head in the pivoted closed position, wherein auser applies force to pivot the pivotable head, the pivotable headpivots to release the balls unlocking the pivotable head.
 5. The deviceof claim 4 wherein the means for attaching the pivotable head base tothe outer end of the outermost sleeve comprises a hollow cylindricalopen outer end of the outermost sleeve having a sleeve inner protrusionadjacent to the outer end; and a twist plug extending from the pivotablehead base, the twist plug having a cylindrical body to fit within thecylindrical open outer end of the outermost sleeve and an insertionportion of a groove mating with the sleeve inner protrusion along thelength of the plug in an outer surface of the plug extending from anouter end of the plug and a locking portion of the groove extendingorthogonally from the insertion portion of the groove around a portionof the circumference of the tube, the locking portion of the groovecommunicating with the insertion portion of the groove so that thesleeve inner protrusion engages the insertion portion of the groove whenthe twist plug is inserted in the outer end of the outer sleeve and thesleeve inner protrusion further engages the locking portion of thegroove when the twist plug is turned in the outermost sleeve to lock thepivotable head base to the outermost sleeve.
 6. The device of claim 4wherein the means for attaching the pivotable head base to the outer endof the outermost sleeve comprises a protruding threaded outer end of theoutermost sleeve; and a mating threaded opening in the pivotable headbase to receive the protruding threaded outer end to lock the pivotablehead base to the outermost sleeve.
 7. A telescoping and pivoting shoehorn device comprising: a collapsible and expansible handle comprisingan outer gripping portion in the shape of a shoe horn and a series ofincreasingly smaller sleeves which sleeves telescope together to fitwithin the outer gripping portion in a fully collapsed position to fitwithin a pocket of a user and which sleeves telescope out to a fullyextended position to form a handle extension for use as an elongatedhandle to enable a user holding a proximal end of the elongated handleto contact a floor with a distal end of the handle from a standingposition; a pivotable head attached to an outer end of an outermosttelescoping sleeve by a means for pivoting the pivotable head between afirst locked position with the pivotable head pivoted onto the handlewhen the telescoping sleeves are in the fully collapsed position and asecond locked position with the pivotable head pivoted out straightextending from the outer end of the outermost sleeve with thetelescoping sleeves in the fully extended position, the pivotable headhaving a shape conforming to the shoe horn shape of the gripping portionof the handle so that the pivotable head contacts and rests with theshoe horn shaped gripping portion of the handle when the sleeves are inthe fully collapsed position with the pivotable head pivoted over thegripping portion; wherein both the shoe horn shaped gripping portion ofthe handle and the pivotable head are each alternately usable as a shoehorn and a handle conforming to a palm of a hand of a user; and whereinthe means for attaching the pivotable head comprises a pivotable headbase comprising a first end having a means for attaching the pivotablehead base to the outer end of the outermost sleeve and a second endhaving a base protrusion with two opposing parallel flat sides having abase pivot pin hole therethrough with a pivot pin through the base pivotpin hole and an adjacent cylindrical opening therethrough with a pair ofspring-loaded locking balls positioned within the cylindrical openingwith one of the balls protruding from each of two opposing parallel flatsides of the base protrusion adjacent to the base pivot pin hole and apivotable head extension comprising a pair of spaced parallel flangesprotruding orthogonally therefrom straddling the two opposing parallelflat sides of the base protrusion, each of the flanges having a centerflange pivot hole for receiving an end of the pivot pin therein and adent on each side of the flange pivot hole in alignment with the lockingball so that when the pivotable head is pivoted open in the fullyextended position the balls engage a first pair of dents on one side ofthe pivot pin to lock the pivotable head in a pivoted open position andwhen the pivotable head is pivoted closed in a closed position over thehandle the balls engage a second pair of dents on the other side of thepivot pin to lock the pivotable head in the pivoted closed position,wherein a user applies force to pivot the pivotable head, the pivotablehead pivots to release the balls unlocking the pivotable head.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein the means for attaching the pivotable headbase to the outer end of the outermost sleeve comprises a hollowcylindrical open outer end of the outermost sleeve having a sleeve innerprotrusion adjacent to the outer end; and a twist plug extending fromthe pivotable head base, the twist plug having a cylindrical body to fitwithin the cylindrical open outer end of the outermost sleeve and aninsertion portion of a groove mating with the sleeve inner protrusionalong the length of the plug in an outer surface of the plug extendingfrom an outer end of the plug and a locking portion of the grooveextending orthogonally from the insertion portion of the groove around aportion of the circumference of the tube, the locking portion of thegroove communicating with the insertion portion of the groove so thatthe sleeve inner protrusion engages the insertion portion of the groovewhen the twist plug is inserted in the outer end of the outer sleeve andthe sleeve inner protrusion further engages the locking portion of thegroove when the twist plug is turned in the outermost sleeve to lock thepivotable head base to the outermost sleeve.
 9. The device of claim 7wherein the means for attaching the pivotable head base to the outer endof the outermost sleeve comprises a protruding threaded outer end of theoutermost sleeve; and a mating threaded opening in the pivotable headbase to receive the protruding threaded outer end to lock the pivotablehead base to the outermost sleeve.